Foster runs wild as Texans top Jags
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Houston Texans have back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly three months.
And that kept them in the muddled AFC playoff race.
Arian Foster ran for 127 yards and a touchdown, and the Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-13 on Sunday. The Texans won consecutive games for the first time since Week 2.
Foster's 1-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter gave Houston (7-6) a comfortable cushion in what had been a back-and-forth game.
After quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick got stuffed on third down, the Texans lined up for a field goal before calling time out and deciding to go. Foster started right and looked like he would be stopped for a loss, but he eluded a tackle, cut back the other way and high-stepped into the end zone.
The Jaguars (2-11) led 13-10 at halftime, but did little after the break.
Jacksonville managed just 4 yards in the third quarter, and Bortles threw his NFL-leading 16th interception of the season. The turnover gave Houston its best field position of the day and led to Foster's TD run.
With a chilly, misty rain falling and Jacksonville trailing, fans didn't bother returning to the stands. EverBank Field was mostly empty during the second half, an embarrassing sight for a franchise fighting to overcome attendance problems.
Jacksonville managed 73 yards in the second half, and Bortles nearly threw three more picks.
J.J. Watt created major problems, finishing with three sacks and five quarterback hits. The Jaguars lost starting right tackle Austin Pasztor last week and went with unproven veteran Sam Young. Not surprisingly, Watt dominated the matchup. He was most disruptive once the Texans took a double-digit lead.
Fitzpatrick completed 13 of 19 passes for 135 yards. He had a 4-yard run in the second quarter that put the Texans up 10-7.
Jacksonville retook the lead on Josh Scobee's two field goals, the first coming on a fourth-and-inches play at the Houston 16. Coach Gus Bradley, with nothing to lose in another losing season, opted to play safe.
It ultimately backfired.
The Texans were mediocre at best in the first half. They had 124 yards, six first downs and no third-down conversions; 51 of those yards came when Foster got loose down the right sideline.
Making matters worse, Houston lost receiver Andre Johnson because of a concussion.
Johnson left early in the second quarter after being hit in the head by Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith. Johnson dropped the ball and lost his helmet on the play. Teammates rushed to his side and motioned for trainers. Johnson sat up a few minutes later and eventually walked off the field under his own power.
He sat on the bench for a few plays before heading to the locker room. The Texans later said he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
He ended the day with four receptions for 17 yards.
The Texans regrouped in the locker room and turned things around after the break.
